Sign Language by Marsel van Oosten

Sign Language by Marsel van Oosten

Elephants do not only have huge bodies, they also have a brain that weights five kilograms, so it’s no surprise that they are very intelligent animals. Recently, scientists have discovered that elephants use their trunk for a simplified version of sign language. The elephant’s trunk contains over 40,000 muscles, divided into as many as 150,000 individual units. The length, flexibility, and the many muscles means that an elephant can twist it into an endless variety of shapes. Not all elephants do this, but there are certain herds in Botswana that have developed a sign language with over 180 different messages. Scientists have only just started to decrypt this previously unknown method of communication, and they expect to find even more signs and messages as the research continues. This young elephant is a member of the herd that uses sign language within the group. As the herd was moving towards a water hole, this youngster suddenly stopped and looked at the grass in front of it. It then slowly raised its trunk to send a message to the rest of the herd: ‘Be careful, there is a spitting cobra in the grass.’ If you look at the trunk, you can clearly see the resemblance to a spitting cobra. It’s mind-blowing, really. Scientists say the elephant is the only animal in the world that uses its trunk for sign language. [Nikon D850, AF-S VR 180-400/4.0, 1/500 @ f/5.6, internal TC engaged, ISO 1600, handheld] Marsel | squiver.com

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